US 5,492,503 A · Variable-offset, poultry deboning system

Abstract

A variable-offset, poultry deboning system having a conveyor fitted with variable-offset, poultry support arms that bend toward the sides of the conveyor and create a two-sided, poultry deboning-conveyor. The support arms are installed so that successive arms turn toward opposite sides of the conveyor. Poultry support fittings, including, but certainly not limited to, deboning cones and half-pads are mounted on the top of each support arm. Support arms that bend toward the same side of the conveyor are fitted alternately with deboning cones and half-pads. However, in one alternative configuration, all support arms are fitted with deboning cones, while in another alternative configuration, all support arms are fitted with deboning half-pads. Additionally, in still other alternative configurations, products-conveyors may be mounted above the conveyor bed or on each side of the conveyor bed.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An apparatus for facilitating the processing of poultry comprising:

an elongated frame;
a continuous conveyor movably supported by said frame for movement along an elongated path and including an elongated edge;
a support means for supporting poultry, wherein said support means is connected to said continuous conveyor and supports poultry proximate to said elongated edge;
and
said support means including, at least,
a support arm member connected to and extending from said continuous conveyor, wherein said support arm member rises from said continuous conveyor, then turns into a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of said continuous conveyor and generally toward said elongated edge, then turns into the vertical direction, and
a support fitting connected to said support arm member.

4 more elements

An apparatus for facilitating the processing of poultry comprising:

an elongated frame;
a continuous conveyor movably supported by said frame for movement along an elongated path and including, at least, a first elongated edge and a second elongated edge;
a plurality of support arm members wherein,
each said support arm member of said plurality of support arm members connects to and extends from said continuous conveyor, and
said plurality of support arm members includes, at least,
a first plurality of support arm members, and
a second plurality of support arm members wherein,
adjacent support arm members of said second plurality of support arm members are interposed between adjacent support arm members of said first plurality of support arm members;
and
a plurality of support fittings including, at least,
a first plurality of support fittings proximate to said first elongated edge, each of said first plurality of support fittings being connected to one of said first plurality of support arm members, and
a second plurality of support fittings proximate to said second elongated edge, each of said second plurality of support fittings being connected to one of said second plurality of support arm members.

9 more elements

An apparatus for facilitating the processing of poultry comprising:

an elongated frame;
a continuous conveyor movably supported by said elongated frame for movement along an elongated path, wherein said continuous conveyor includes, at least,
a first elongated edge, and
a second elongated edge;
and
a plurality of support fittings supported by and movable with said continuous conveyor wherein,
each said support fitting supports the center of mass of the poultry at a position laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of said continuous conveyor,
said plurality of support fittings includes, at least,
a first plurality of support fittings proximate to said first elongated edge, and
a second plurality of support fittings proximate to said second elongated edge, and
each of said first and second plurality of support fittings includes, at least,
a plurality of poultry carcass support members, and
a plurality of poultry portion support members, wherein adjacent poultry portion support members of each of said first and second plurality of support fittings are interposed between adjacent poultry carcass support members of said first and second plurality of support fittings.

10 more elements

An apparatus for facilitating the processing of poultry comprising:

an elongated frame;
a continuous conveyor movably supported by said elongated frame for movement along an elongated path, wherein said continuous conveyor includes, at least,
a first elongated edge, and
a second elongated edge;
a plurality of support fittings supported by and movable with said continuous conveyor wherein,
each said support fitting supports the center of mass of the poultry at a position laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of said continuous conveyor, and
said plurality of support fittings includes, at least,
a first plurality of support fittings proximate to said first elongated edge, and
a second plurality of support fittings proximate to said second elongated edge;
and
a plurality of support arm members wherein,
each support arm member of said plurality of support arm members is connected between said continuous conveyor and one of said support fittings from one of said first and second plurality of support fittings, and
said plurality of support arm members includes, at least,
a first plurality of support arm members, each of said first plurality of support arm members being connected to one of said first plurality of support fittings, and
a second plurality of support arm members, each of said second plurality of support arm members being connected to one of said second plurality of support fittings, wherein adjacent support arm members of said second plurality of support arm members are interposed between adjacent support arm members of said first plurality of support arm members.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable-offset, poultry deboning system

Life of this patent

Variable-offset, poultry deboning system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31